Toronto, Ontario (April 08, 2010) – Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama plays hosts to Round 2 of the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights Series this weekend, Friday 9th – Sunday 11th April, and one man eager to get going is Canada’s James Hinchcliffe.
The Toronto racer is desperate to return to the 2.38-mile, 17-turn circuit having captured the fastest pre-season testing time there back in February as together with the IZOD IndyCar Series, the Firestone Indy Lights entrants sampled the track for the first time prior to this weekend’s inaugural ‘Indy Grand Prix of Alabama’.
James’ speed, piloting the #2 Team Moore Racing Dallara-Firestone, followed through into the opening round of the season last month in St. Petersburg, Florida. The 23-year-old captured pole on the temporary street circuit, only to see his crack at a maiden Indy Lights victory cruelly denied after being taken out at the first turn on the opening lap.
Regardless, ‘Hinch’ – who finished fifth overall in last year’s Indy Lights Driver Standings, is keen to maintain the form that has him earmarked as a title contender.
“Well the most frustrating thing about the St. Pete race was knowing that we probably had the fastest car in the field,” stated Hinchcliffe. “It’s just a shame that our race was cut short so early as I had a clear run to the first turn after a great start. But, as I said at the time, that’s motor racing and while it was unfortunate for the guys on the team who’d worked so hard to give me such a great car, we take heart from knowing the speed was there.
“Similarly, we ran competitively on our sole trip to Barber Motorsports Park in pre-season testing. I’m pretty confident that with the consistency we’ve demonstrated already, the #2 Team Moore Racing entry should be in the mix in qualifying and the race. The Barber track is almost the complete opposite from St. Petersburg. It’s a fairly long layout with lots of corners and the elevation changes are something else. I’m pumped to be going back and I’m targeting nothing less than a trip to the top step of the podium!”
In addition to racing, Hinchcliffe will again be part of the IZOD IndyCar Series Pace Car Team in Alabama, a role he’s relishing with a direct involvement in track operations when the IndyCar Series hits the track.
Round 2 of the 2010 Firestone Indy Lights Series gets underway at Barber Motorsports Park at Noon ET on Sunday 11th April – www.indycar.com
Release Prepared By SM-PR Tel: +1 514 684 2621 / Cell: +1 514 945 3253 / Email: stuart@sm-pr.com
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